Investor Exits After Low Blow to ‘The Ocean’

One of the worst things any filmmaker could ever hear is “we don’t have the money,” especially when you’re in Puerto Rico starting pre-production on your next film! That’s the low blow director Dante Tomaselli received while in pre-production on his next feature film The Ocean, which has been delayed. In addition to that news, Dante has stated that he will be actively pursuing the directing gig for Dimension Films’ Halloween 9. The Ocean is about supernatural riptides terrorizing a coastal community. Expect plenty of drownings, possessions, and spooky haunted house scenarios. Read on for the skinny…From Guts and Glory:

“There’s actually a delay in shooting THE OCEAN. That’s why Adrienne Barbeau won’t be able to be in it (she’ll definitely be in my next film, SALEM, though). My crew and I were in Puerto Rico a couple of weeks ago ready to start pre-production but our main investor turned out to have no money. I felt like dying. I went into a deep depression. Felissa knows all about this. Her phone conversations helped me through. Anyhow, now I’m better and I’m in talks with other producers to finance THE OCEAN. Something should break any day now.

I must retain final cut, though, like all my other movies. That makes me a bit “difficult” I suppose, but I can’t imagine spending an entire year of my life on something that could easily be edited by someone else I don’t even approve of. I could probably bring this film to a studio but I don’t want a bunch of people in suits dictating how the movie should be.

THE OCEAN is an independent film. I am psyched about the cast. Margot Kidder (The Amityville Horror), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Judith O’Dea (Night of the Living Dead), Tom Atkins (The Fog, Creepshow). Also cameos by Ellen Sandweiss (The Evil Dead), Edwin Neal (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Lynn Lowry (Cat People, The Crazies, Shivers)